Recently, Ukraine has released a video showing dozens of North Korean soldiers lined up to receive Russian military uniforms. Ukrainian officials have stated that this video indicates North Korea’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The video, as reported by the Associated Press, was released by the Centre for Strategic Communication and Information Security, a sub-unit of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Information Policy. It shows North Korean soldiers queuing up to receive packages, clothing, and other attire from Russian soldiers. The authenticity of this video could not be independently verified by the Associated Press.
Ihor Solovey, the head of the center, stated, “We obtained this video from our own sources. For security reasons, we are unable to provide further proof from the sources who provided us with this video.”
“This video clearly shows that individuals are distributing Russian uniforms to North Korean citizens according to the instructions of the Russian military,” he said. “For Ukraine, this video is significant as it is the first evidence showing North Korea siding with Russia in the conflict. Now, not only weapons and ammunition are being supplied but also personnel.”
The center claimed that the footage was filmed by a Russian soldier in recent days, but did not disclose how they obtained the video, and the location of the recording remains unknown.
Prior to the release of this video, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, had stated in local media that approximately 11,000 North Korean infantry were currently undergoing training in eastern Russia. He predicted that these individuals would be combat-ready by November.
Local media cited him as saying that at least 2,600 individuals would be sent to the Kursk region of Russia, where Ukraine launched a cross-border attack in August.
“No matter how many new soldiers emerge, it is a concern because we do need new and additional weapons to eliminate them,” Solovey told the Associated Press. “The release of this video is crucial; it sends a signal to the international community that in the situation where two countries are officially at war with Ukraine, we need more support to repel this aggression.”
If the presence of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine is confirmed, it will further prove that Russian President Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have strengthened military ties between the two countries. Last summer, they signed a strategic partnership treaty, pledging mutual military assistance. North Korean weapons have already been used in the Ukrainian conflict.